The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-02-18

got any distance away, and I'll have him,
dead or alive, before leave this pot. The
whole gang OF Lincolnite helhounds aro
freed right up there, and not ono OF them
shall get away alive" He put bone whistle
to his lips and sounded a shrill signal A
horscman trotted up from the ear In re-
sponso to tho call, leading a hound with a
leash. "Takc tho dog up to that rock there,
Bill" said the captain, "aNd set him on that
DEVILS trail. Five more Of you dismount and
deploy there OH tho other sido Of the road.
All Of you move forward cautiously, watch
ing tho dog, and make sure you save tho
whclp when ho is run out"
Tho men left their saddles and moved for
ward with manifest reluctance. They had
the highly emotional nature usual in tho poor
white OF the south, and this was deeply de-
pressed by the wicrd loneliness that broodcd
over everything, and the bloodshed they had
witnessed. Their thirst for vengeance WAS
being tempered rapidly by growing super
stitious fear. There was something super
natural in these mysterious killings. Each
man, therefore, only moved forward as he
felt the captains eye on him, or his comrades
| advanced.
| The dog, after some false starts, got the
scent, and started to follow Fortncrs foot
steps.
"He's done tuck the trail, Cap'n," called
back one Of tho men.
"All right" answered the officer; "don't
take your eyes Off of him for a second till lie
| trees the game"
| But tho logs and the rocks and the inlpene.
trablc darkness il the shadows made it i'm
possible to follow the movements of tie
hound every moment. Only Fortncr was able
to do this He could see the great grccnisL-
yellow eyes burn in the pitchy depths and
steadily draw nearer to him. They entered
the laurel thicket, and the beast growlcd cs
he felt tho nearness of his prey.
"Wo!f must be gittin close ter him." said
one of the men.
Fortner laid his rifle across the log, and
drew from his belt a long keen knife. He
stirred slightly in doing this, and in turning
to confront the dog. The hound sprang for
ward with growl that was abruptly ended,
for Fortner's left hand shot out like an
arrow. and caught the loose folds of skin on
the brute's neck, and the next instant his
right, armed with the knife, descended and
laid the animals shoulder and neck open
with n long deep cut. But the darkness made
Fortner mistake his distance. He neither
caught the dog securely, nor sent the knife
to his heart, as he intended, and the hounl
tearing away, ran out into the moonlight,
bleeding and yelping. Before he reached
his human allies Fortner had silently sped
back 1Oo yards, to q more secure SHELTER so
that the volley which was poured into the
thicket only endangered the lives of the
chipmunks denizened there The mounted
men rode forward and joined those OIL foot
i'll raking the copse with charges of buckshot.
Away above Fortner and Harry rose yells
and the clatter of galloping horses Before
they could imagine what this meant little
cavalcadc swept by at a mad gallop, yelling
at the tops of their voices, and charging di-
rectly ut the Confederntes below In front
were Aunt Debby, Bolton and Edwards, rid
ing abreast and behind them,three men in
homespun.
The Confedcrates seemed totaSy unnerved
by this startling apparition. The dismounted
ones flung themselves OH their horses and all
fed away ut gallop, without attempting to
make stand and without taking thought of
their wagon. As they scurried along the
opposite mountain side Fortner and Harry
fired ut them, but without being able to tell
whether their shots took effect.
The pursuit was carried but little dis
lance. The wagon was secured and taken
up the mountain. A little after midnight
the summit was passed, and Fortner led the
way into an opening to the right, which
eventually brought up at a little level spot
in front of large cave. The horses were
unhitched and unsaddled, a fire built, cedar
boughs gathered to make a bed on the rocky
floor of the cave, and they threw themselves
down upon this to sleep the sleep of utter
WEAKNESS
In the meantime Harry had learned that
the new corners were cousins of Fortner's,
who being cut on free scouting expedition,
had been encountered by Aunt Debby and
the Others near the summit of the mountain,
and had started back with them to the assist
ance Of Fortner. The sound Of firing had SO
excited them that the suggestion of charge
by Kent Edwards was eagerly acceded to.
ut must be near 8 O'clock" said Kent,
looking up at the stars, as he came back
stealthily from laying the saddle blanket,
which was the only covering he and Abe
had upon the sleeping form of Aunt Debby,
aud my downy couch still waits for me. My
lifelong habits of staid responsibility have
been greatly shaken recently"
Abe groaned derisively.
An inspection the next morning of tho
wagons load showed it to be mainly made up
of hams, shoulders and sides, plundered from
tho smolehouses visited. With these were a
number Of guns, including several fine rifles,
and all the ammunition that could be found
along the route
A breakfast was made of slices of ham
broiled on the ends of sticks, and then a con-
sultation was held as to the plans for the days
operations
The result of this was decision that Aunt
Debby and one of the newcomers should go
back and inform the neighborhood Of what
had taken place, gather party to remove
the dead from the creek and bury them, to
keep the water from being poisoned, and re-
cover what property might be found with the
first wagon. Kent Edwards, Abe Bolton,
and two of the new corners would scout down
toward London, to ascertain the truth of the
rumor that Zollicoffer had evacuated that
place and retired to Laurel bridge, nine miles
south Of it. Fortner and Harry Glen would
take the wagon to Wildcat Gap, report what
had been done, and explain to their COM
mandcr the absence of the enlisted men,
To be Continued